Okinawa governor calls for cancelation of U.S. Osprey deployment

On Tuesday, Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima had a meeting with Koichiro Genba, Japan’s Foreign Minister, and Satoshi Morimoto, the Defense Minister, to ask them to call off the U.S. Military’s deployment of twenty-four MV-22 Osprey aircrafts to the marine’s Futenma base. Nakaima says that he cannot allow the U.S. government to deploy the Osprey until its safety has been proven to the people of Japan. This call for protection comes just over a week after a the city of Iwakuni, in Yamaguchi Prefecture, also refused to allow the aircrafts to be tested there before deployment to Okinawa.

The concern over safety stems from an April accident in Morocco where an Osprey aircraft crashed and two marines died. The U.S. has repeatedly tried to explain that the cause was pilot error, and not a mechanical failure. However, there was another Osprey crash in the U.S. state of Florida last week. Genba assured Nakaima that he had contacted the U.S. Military and requested further details on both of the accidents as soon as possible.

The new aircrafts are meant to replace the aging helicopters still in use in Okinawa. They were originally meant to be assembled and tested in Yamaguchi Prefecture in July, and then be sent to the airbase in Okinawa. Both Yamaguchi Governor Sekinari Nii, and Iwakuni Mayor Yoshihiko Fukuda have refused the Ospreys to be used and put their residents in danger. The aircraft is meant for transport and features rotating propellers on airplane-like wings, which allows it to take off and land vertically, and also fly faster than a traditional helicopter.

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Peter Simpson

This semester I am teaching Jiji Eigo – Current Affairs in English – at Okinawa International University. Almost all the students in my class are English majors, and many view the US military presence in Okinawa in a positive light. On the other hand, they all disagree with the proposition made in a recent Daily Yomiuri article that, “The Osprey’s capabilities are ideal for Okinawan deployment.”

Here are a few of their comments:

“No matter what the reason was for the latest crash, mechanical or otherwise, the aircraft crashed. We’d like to say ‘A crash is a crash.'”

“We can’t agree to deploying the Osprey in Okinawa because the Osprey is so dangerous and noisy. Many people have already been killed in Osprey crashes and we don’t know why the military want to deploy the aircraft.”

“I disagree with the Daily Yomiuri editorial because they are saying the Ospreys are [an] attractive [proposition] even though there are so many accidents. And the Yomiuri [editors] don’t have to worry about themselves because the Osprey deployment is not for their prefecture or region. It’s so irresponsible. I didn’t really care about the [2004] crash in OKIU, but now I’m here and I’m hoping we won’t have that kind of accident [again].”

“The Ospreys will go to war from Okinawa. If so, Okinawa will be in danger because Okinawa can become a target for the US’s enemies.”

“If the Ospreys come to Okinawa, the military issue will become more complicated and it will be even more difficult to move the [Futenma] base from Okinawa.”

“The Osprey does not have an AR function which helps an aircraft to land safely, but this fact wasn’t stated.”

“Can you imagine it? An unstable aircraft is flying over your head while you are studying?”

We often hear politicians’ opinions on this issue. It would be wonderful if also the opinions of ordinary people, such as my students were featured in the national press.

The Japan Daily Press

Peter, thanks for your sharing the voices of the students in Okinawa! They definitely need to be heard! Please keep us informed!

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